One in ten Americans has a type of hearing loss that affects his or her ability to understand normal speech. Excessive noise exposure on the job is the most common cause of hearing loss. Some workers with long-term hearing loss have developed ways of adapting to the gradual onset of the disease, but the chronic effects of noise are real and can be devastating. The important thing is that regardless of your present level of hearing loss, it is never too late or too hard to prevent further damage. Workers who already have serious hearing loss have an even greater reason for saving the hearing they have left.

Bonfires can be a great centerpiece to a gathering of friends or family—the beautiful, starry night sky overhead, s'mores being made for one and all, stories being passed around, laughter filling the night air—maybe even a few adult beverages to go along with the constellation of people.